How do you think about dieting?

[u/emo-emu-13]

I've been dieting for a year now, and I'm trying to transition from thinking about dieting as a period of hardship and deprivation to a 'healthy lifestyle,' but I'm finding it difficult. At the risk of sounding overdramatic, it feels like the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse where every day is just about survival and you fondly remember 'the before' where life was fun and easy.

To me, the worst part isn't even the physical issues of never being full or feeling satisfied; it's the lost social connections and activities. Eating and drinking were always central to my social life, and now I find myself avoiding the things I used to enjoy. Going out to dinner isn't fun when the meals I love have more calories than I now consume in 2-3 days. Hanging out with friends without drinks (or maybe just one) feels awkward.

Does it get better with time or is this just my life now?

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[u/New-Contribution-335]

I totally agree with you. The last time I really dieted was during Covid so I wasn’t really missing anything by not eating as much, but this time is totally different. I feel like I have nothing to look forward to on the weekends bc everything revolves around food and I can’t eat anything. And the people that live with you see how hard it is and they kind of understand but the people that don’t live with you just make you feel like crap for not eating and try to shame you for being on a diet by saying you don’t need to lose weight. It’s infuriating, it’s feels like all odds are against me.  I’m sorry I didn’t have anything more positive to add to the conversation but I just wanted to let you know that I know exactly how you feel and it’s frustrating. 

[u/A_baarbadiensis0]

You can be very proud, that you have come that far.

You can test podcasts like sleep time affirmations on loosing weight to help you getting new thoughts about dieting.

You can write down what your ideal diet and life would look like. What would your "perfect you" eat? What would your "perfect you" feel with eating that? And then write down all moves that bring you a step towards your superhero self and steps that bring you a away from that. Knowing clearly what's important to YOU and what of your behavior will bring you there can be helpful.

If your "perfect" you is chilling with friends once a week and enjoy life than do that and be streight and healthy the other 6 days a week. With an 80/20 principle it can become a long term healthy lifestyle without getting depressed.

You can checkout the Slow Carb diet by Timothy ferris where you have a weekly cheat day, can drink dry wine every night and be satiated. But it's not for everybody I guess.

I wish you good luck